Calculating meter for road building



March 10, 1942. R. E. BURNHAM E'l AL 2,276,153

CALCULATING METER FOR ROAD BUILDING Filed Feb. 16, 1959 ,zz g/ RJQBurnham aVlBurka m m Patented Mar. 10, 1942 2,276,153 CALCULATING METERroa ROAD nmnfmo Robert E. Burnham, Hartshorne, Okla, and George V. Bur,Whitewright, Tex.

Application February 16, 1939, Serial No. 256,804 1 Claim. (Cl. 33-215)This invention relates to a; calculating meter for road building, and itis an object of the invention to providea device of this kind to beemployed in determining the degree of angle across or transversely ofthe roadway and which can also be employed with equalfacllity tocalculate the depth of bar ditch and the amount of fall per foot. V

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kindadapted to be mounted upo a grader and which operates under the actionof a pendulum and wherein the meter is so constructed and arranged as toenable the desired calculation to be computed either to the right orleft.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of our improvedcalculating meter whereby certain important .advantages are attained andthe device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise moreconvenient and advantageous for use, as willibe hereinafter more fullyset forth.

The novel features of our invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that our invention may be the better understood, we will nowproceed to dmcribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing,wherein Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a calculating meterconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of our invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewtaken substantially onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fi ure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line3-3 of Fig. 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, C denotes a casing of desireddimensions and which is adapted to be placed upon the frame of a gradersubstantially parallel with the rear axle at a point rearwardly of theblade cut.

intersecting the casing and disposed through and held by the front wallI and rear wall 2 of grader may determine.

a rock arm 8 of desired length and secured to the lower portion of thisarm 8 is a weighted member or poise which will readily swing to theright or left as the transverse tilt of the The bolts 3 and 4 extendbeyond the front wall I of the casing C and hold in a positionoverlyingthefront wall a plate Adhesively or otherwise secured to theouter face of this plate ii] is a dial IL, The bars 5 also freelysupport a shaft l2 bridging the space between the bars 5 and extendingoutwardly thru the front wall I of-the casing C and through the plateill and at the axial center of the dial ll. Fixed to the outer orextended end portion of the shaft I2 for rotation therewith are theoppositely directed elongated indices or points M.

The shaft it between the members 5 has fixed for rotation therewith apulley l5 and winding upon this pulley [5, as at It, is the centralportion of a flexible member I! which is also extended around the pulleyI. The flexible memher I! has its lengths crossed at a point between thepulleys I and it so that upon rotation of the pulley I desired rotationof the pulley I5 is also accomplished.

The dial H is provided on its outer or exposed face with threeconcentric circles l8, l9 and 20. This outer face of the dial H is alsoprovided with a series of radial lines 2! extending from substantiallythe center of the dial II to the outer annular lines 18 and midwaybetween adjacent lines are the radial lines 22 which extend from theinner circular line to the outer cirthe casing are the bolts 3 and 8.These bolts 3 and 4 are spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of thecasing C with the bolt 8 at a desired point below the bolt 3. a

The bolts 3 and 4 provide a support for the parallel bars {disposed on adownward incline as determined by the relative relation of the bolts 3and l. The upper portions of these arms 5 freelysupport a shaft 8intersecting the space between the arms 5, and fixed to this shaft 6between said armsj is a relatively large pulley I.

cular line It.

Associated with the outer annular or circular line it are the angledegree graduations 23 consecutively numbered to the right and left fromthe uppermost or top zero point 24. The graduations 23 ccacting with theindices or pointers M to indicate degree to angle of the roadway in adirection crosswise or transversely thereof and which calculation isobtained. of course, in accordance with the extent of side tiltingmovement of the grader.

The intermediate annular or circular line I5 is provided with thesuitably positioned indications 25 whereby may be readily calculated thedepth of the bar ditch based on a six feet rear wheel width. Theseindications, however, can be readily computed in connection with otherwheel widths.

line 20 are the indications 26 whereby may be Depending from the shaft 6and fixed thereto is to readily registered the drop in inches per foot.

holding engagement with the keeper 3| carried by the front wall I of thecasing C. The casing C is adapted to have in the lower portion thereofoil of a consistency to stabilize the pendulating movement of the arm 8and particularly to pre- I vent excess swinging on rough ground,

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that acalculating meter constructed in accordance with our invention isparticularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will alsobe obvious that our invention issusceptible of some change andmodification without departing from the principles and spirit thereofand for this reason we do not wish to be understood as limitingourselves to the precise arrangement and formation of the several partsherein-shown in carrying out our invention in practice except ashereinafter claimed.

We claim:

A calculating meter for road building comprising a casing having frontand rear walls,parallel bars within the casing, bolts disposed throughthe front and rear walls of the casing and through the end portions ofthe bars for supporting the bars within the casing, said bolts extendingbeyond the front wall of the casing, a dial plate supported by saidextended portions of the bolts, a shaft rotatably supported by the barsand bridging the space therebetween, said shaft extending through thefront wall of the casing and through the dial plate, an index carried bysaid shaft and outwardly of the dial plate, a second shaft rotatablysupported by the bars and bridging the space therebetween, pulleysmounted on both of the shafts for rotation therewith, a pendulum carriedby the second shaft, and a flexible connection' winding upon both of thepulleys but in reverse directions whereby the pulleys are in drivenconnection.

R. E. BURNHAM.

GEORGE V. BURNHAM.

